Getting Food to the East Coast

By
Erika Mahoney

October 30, 2012Updated Oct 30, 2012 at 11:22 PM EDT

Kirkwood, NY (WBNG Binghamton) Hurricane Sandy spared most of the Twin Tiers, but the effects of the storm are being felt here.

Employees at Willow Run Foods in Kirkwood, which delivers to several national fast food chains in the mid-Atlantic and East Coast, are working quickly to get their trucks to some of the most devastated areas.

An entire fleet set to dispatch Sunday and Monday night to the East Coast was forced to delay deliveries when Sandy hit.

Now, they are making up for lost time to help those most in need of critical supplies, like food and water.

"Schedules have been adjusted," said Leonardo Basso, vice president of operations. "Our customers are calling in, telling us our stores are open, they have electricity. We are doing everything we can to re-create some routes so we can get product and services to them."

Managers said they are very proud of their team as they have stepped up during this natural disaster.

"They all realize that it's important that the trucks go out and the customers receive their products," said Basso.

Outside, driver David Warren completed some "double-checks" before heading out to Queens, New York. He's running on a different schedule.

"It's just part of the job, get down there to help people out," said Warren.

These deliveries aren't about making money.

"The direction coming from corporate is for the stores to help out any law enforcement or emergency services," said Basso. "And, to not worry about the money aspect of it and provide food and water to those people on a first priority basis."